De kennis over de taal is heel belangrijk.

to be

Breakdown of De kennis over de taal is heel belangrijk.

• heel: very
• belangrijk: important
• over: about
• de kennis: the knowledge
• de taal: the language

Questions & Answers about De kennis over de taal is heel belangrijk.

Why is kennis used here instead of another word for knowledge, like weten?

In Dutch, kennis is used as a noun to indicate the concept or amount of knowledge, whereas weten is more commonly used as a verb meaning “to know.” So, kennis is the best choice to refer generally to one’s knowledge about the language.

What is the role of over in de kennis over de taal?

In this sentence, over means “about.” It indicates that the knowledge pertains to the language. Another preposition such as van could be used in a slightly different context to emphasize ownership or possession, but over is more natural here to mean “about.”

Could I use erg instead of heel in this sentence?

Yes! Erg and heel can both mean “very” in Dutch. Erg belangrijk and heel belangrijk are often used interchangeably to stress importance. In this sentence, both would make sense: De kennis over de taal is erg belangrijk or heel belangrijk.

Why is there no article before kennis?

Kennis is typically treated as an uncountable noun in Dutch. Because it refers to a conceptual or general type of knowledge rather than a specific instance, Dutch grammar doesn’t require an article in this context.